Trails of Fails
About the album
Trails of Fails is Anouk's thirteenth studio album, released in 2022 as a seven-track mini-album with an intimate and stripped-back atmosphere.
The record was made with producer Jim Abbiss, whose previous work includes collaborations with Arctic Monkeys, Adele and Kasabian.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaboration took place remotely: Abbiss recorded the music at Livingston Studio in London, while Anouk recorded her vocals at home and sent them to him.
The songs were written during what was meant to be a short writing retreat in Morocco, but became a seven-week stay after air travel was disrupted by the pandemic.
Anouk explained the seven-track format by saying she preferred seven songs she fully supported over twelve that might have been less strong.
The album also marked a return to English-language songs after the Dutch-language Wen D'r Maar Aan, presenting a restrained singer-songwriter style across seven personal tracks.
The release was announced with a pre-order and pre-save campaign in which fans could win tickets for Anouk's Malieveld concert of 11 June 2022 in The Hague, with Something Better already streaming as the album teaser.
Single
Tracklist
7 tracks · 23:23Click a title to view the lyrics
But how do you get over someone who just took the easy way out
What you did
You've taken me for granted made me start all over again
I'll take my shit
I'll try to act like I can make it on my own
'Cause what you did
You just made me see where it all went wrong
No, we can never turn back time
Maybe in our minds
But you know what they say
Things are better this way
Things are better this way
The times you left
The times I've loved
But in my heart I have to trust
So I must walk away
So I'll take my shit
You promised that you would never break my heart in half
But you did
Not only my heart, but most of all you broke my laugh
I found myself bleeding in silence
When did things change so much
Shallow emotions, my mind is numb
The screams in my dreams have made me become aware
I'd rather walk alone
And find my soul a home
So that nothing, no nothing
No nothing can hurt me anymore
Please give me something, give me something
Give me something way better than before
There's too little love and my days are grey
And I wanna lift all these clouds away
I'm reaching my hands to the darkest skies
'Cause I am too tired of tears streaming from my eyes
Oh nothing, no nothing
No nothing can hurt me anymore
Please give me something, give me something
Give me something way better than before
Winter chills were on my mind
These storms of life, I've left them behind
A change to start a new
Where my dreams can come true
And you won't be around no more
Sooner or later there will come a day
And you'll decide to leave me like before
I'll try to find a way to get things done
And offer things that life no longer does
Your hurtful words, they'll enter my mind
And even though it hurts, I will leave it alone this time
'Cause behind your words, behind those words
I know there's still love on your mind
And make me find a way to get things done
And offer things that life no longer does
Your hurtful words, they will enter my mind
Even though it hurts, I will leave it alone this time
'Cause behind your words, I will leave it alone this time
'Cause behind your words, behind those words
I know there's still love on your mind
From the day I set my eyes on you, I fell in love
You make me laugh when I cry
You always brighten up my bleak and shady heart
Don't take away this sunshine
But you kept it all overtime
It will fall in place and come our way
Now listen close to what I say
When love and fear have combined
It occupies our mind
Just let it go and let us grow
Take my hand and understand
That as long as you are by my side
We will be alright
Whatever our life will bring out today
We can always have spring, even on a winter's day
Undo the past by sun and light
Please just take these troubles off my mind
Make me stay
I shake and pray
Baby hold on, give it time
Make me stay
Pave the way
Darling do me, do me right
Whatever our life will bring out today
We can always have spring, even on a winter's day
Undo the past by sun and light
Please just take these troubles off my mind
'Cause the sun is still yours and mine
Just restore what is right
Though your heart may disagree
And distorts reality
But still I ain't letting you go
'Cause we've waited too long
Whatever our life will bring out today
We can always have spring, even on a winter's day
Undo the past by sun and light
Please just take these troubles off my mind
Off my mind
All the injuries she's covered up with make-up
On a face with hidden tears
And now she's going for the kill
So she filed for divorce
After seven years of marriage
We all knew it was rumored to be a mess
It was a dumpster fire
Everything he put her through
She wants him to feel it too
Now she's going for the kill
So she can move on with her life
As he walked away with his belongings
She said, I hope one day you'll change your life
'Cause I am not your fragile ego or your rage and hate
And to be honest, I have never loved you anyway
Killer instincts kicking in
Wanting revenge on him
It's running up and down in her mind
Everything he put her through
She wants him to feel it too
Now she's going for the kill
So she can move on with her life
'Cause she's been in it for some years
All the injuries she's covered up with make-up
Covered up her bruises
On a face with hidden tears
And now she's going for the kill
To be honest, I have never loved you anyway
Then the both of them agreed
To split things evenly, except for spousal support
For sure she will succeed
And try to make him suffer
'Cause she's going for the kill
She's going for the kill
Where we should act with courage, not war
And we could be the one that make it happen
A better world is closer than before
This could be great for us
Great for us
In this time and place
Giving will change us
In a good way
It's more blessed to give than to receive
We have so much more than we need
The time has come to pay our share
Just know there is a bigger world out there
And this could be great for us
Great for us
In this time and place
'Cause giving will change us
Great for us
Great for us
In good way
Try to reach for something almost impossible
And ask yourself to do more than before
Once you feel that you can almost reach it
You may have to stretch it just a little more
This could be great for us
Great for us
In this time and place
Giving will change us
Change us
In a good way
Great for us
Great for us
In good way
This could be great for us
Great for us
In this time and place
Giving will change us
And how I love your imperfections too
Whatever you say or do, it's all ok
'Cause I know you love me anyway
And if you're moody, that's just fine
Or acting kinda bossy, baby I don't mind
If you wanna fight a little, that's alright too
I love you still, 'cause baby that's just you
Everything is perfect, everything's ok
I love you more than words could ever say
You make it all worth it, every single day
Your beauty is unmatchable in any way
Just don't change
No don't change
Everything is perfect, everything's ok
I love you more than words could ever say
You make it all worth it, every single day
Your beauty is unmatchable in any way
Just don't change
Just don't change
When my deepest memories come to mind
It sometimes makes it hard to see the light
Even on the days when it all falls down
It never feels as good when you're not around